Forde Abbey Windows

Hellooo!!

Here we are on the first Tuesday of the Month , our Monthly Meet-up Photo Challenge, with another collection of WINDOW photographs. To join in please leave a link to your photos in the comments. Your photos can be any interpretation of the subject, and can be your latest photos or archive photos and posts – all welcome.

Forde Abbey on the Somerset/Dorset border in the south of England is the perfect place if you are looking for a collection of windows to photograph. Join them on Instagram to see some wonderful photos of the gardens.

The photos above are the windows to the Orangery, we couldn’t go in in February, but peeped through the windows to see the citrus trees inside

I hope we will be able to wander through this space later in the year when the house is open for viewing.

Til then we had the outside views to enjoy.

But we could go into the Chapel where, behind the Rood Screen, there was a delicate tree flowering in the window – is that a Mimosa?

but this Window at the other end of the Chapel stole the show

especially with that blue sky beaming through.

I’m looking forward to seeing the windows you have spied this month.

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The Tor

‘We will walk 500 miles’

Today Little Miss M and I reached 60.8 miles of our 500 mile goal.

We walked up Glastonbury Tor – can you see that pink speck nearly at the top? That is Little Miss M (6) racing ahead to get there first.

What a glorious day it was with magnificent views

stretching far and wide……

looking back at the town of Glastonbury

and from the top

so good to stand together when I finally got there!

looking back at how far we had come

We were with my daughter, Miss E and Master R. The children were touchingly concerned about the modern carvings, but enjoyed the “love heart” as it had not damaged the stone

Having enjoyed the Spring sunshine, the breeze and the views it was time to go back down

with many others enjoying the climb

some leaving tributes or prayers in the trees

On the 85 minute journey home, Miss E (11) was a bit bored and invented Car Yoga to keep herself and the rest of us amused – with demonstrations of the Eyebrow Pose, the Upward Dog and the Squash-the-Person-Next-To-You Pose – Happy Days!

Click on any picture to see it full screen.

Joining Son of a Beach’s Which Way Challenge

 

Wings

………Continuing to share our lovely bright Winter’s walk around the Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset, England.

There is a smaller wings sculpture in the South Garden.

here, viewed from the ramparts

from where one also gets this glorious view across the Somerset countryside

Peeping through the ramparts

you can see the moat below

There are some videos of the gardens and last year’s cignets here.

Like us, the swans were basking in the sun

(Noelle and Alison in the Whispering Gallery)

And so was a cheeky little robin

sitting on his favourite posing post

All of us glorying in that clear blue sky and the warmth the sun gave us

Noelle suggested this photo of me trying out the wings, it was such a fabulous day our spirits were certainly soaring

and I must show you Noelle’s marvellous hand-knitted hat and scarf/shawl, which looks like wings to me

more to come …..

In a Moss Ball on Monday

Joining in with Cathy’s In a Vase on Monday

A rooted cutting from a ‘Money Plant’ or Crassula Portulacea (I think?), just right to make into a piece of Kokodama as a gift for a fellow blogger with a penchant for succulents.

I had the most brilliant day yesterday – all due to commenting on Noelle’s Snowdrop post a couple of weeks ago. Following an exchange of comments and Noelle’s generous invitation, Noelle, Alison and I all met up at the Bishop’s Palace in Wells for the Snowdrop Celebration.

The day was cold but the sunshine bright

Look at that sky!

So much beauty to see

and Cathy – so many wonderful witchhazels

 

We had the best time – more photos to share in a future post

So, thank you from the tip of my toes to the top of my head to Cathy for her fabulous Monday meme which brought us together, Noelle for the suggestion and generous hospitality and Alison for joining us to make it such a wonderful day.Noelle  ~  Alison  ~  Me

Silent Sunny Sunday

With Noelle and Alison

Thursday

Anyone who has been following this blog for a while will know how I like to make everything as multi-functional as possible – it is a Permaculture thing and Permaculture is the closest thing to a religion I have.

Imagine my delight when I realised I could combine Thursday Doors, Three Things Thursday, Cee’s Which Way Challenge and Odd Ball Challenge AND recommend some simply splendid people and places – my cup overfloweth with golden delights.

Three Things Thursday:

Emily shares “three things that make me smile: an exercise in gratitude – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog with the happy”

So here goes:

1.Yesterday I took Miss E to one of Sewchet‘s wonderfully empowering sewing workshops. Seeing her glee at having made something she can actually wear was a joy. She learnt so much.

2. Meeting Sheila of Sewchet. Meeting fellow bloggers is a fun, enriching experience. I have met Mrs Snail, Judy of Edwinas Episodes, and now Sheila. What a wonderful community it is. …. and there are plans to meet more bloggers brewing.

3. Meeting an old friend after a very long time and having such a brilliant time at Durlslade Farm, art gallery, cafe and sculpture garden. Go if you can!

This is my favourite photo of the day which I think has a touch of the Edward Hopper about it. ‘Hopper’ turned positive and optimistic perhaps.

The Garden and Gallery are absolutely amazing and inspiring, and the food in the café is delicious.

The next photo from this garden is for Cee’s Which Way Challenge

and there were plenty of contenders for the Odd Ball Challenge at this fabulous gallery

How about a giant steel bucket full of shiny pots and pans

or a steel tree

with pots and pans for leaves. I love that it is set against this ancient farmhouse and looks a lot like old mulberry trees in gardens of houses this sort of age.

Here you can see the two sculptures against the old buildings and the gloriously blue sky – what a day!

And another door to the farmhouse for Norm’s Thursday Doors. You can stay there! Pricey but just take a look at the website to see how wonderful the interior is.

I did have such a magical day – and have loved sharing it with you.